Hope for Educators: Weston Schools Dismissing Early, Westport Schools Virtual as Staff Attend Staples Field House Vaccine Clinic
The Westport-Weston Health District is hosting a large COVID-19 vaccine clinic today at the Staples High School Field House for educators in Westport, Weston, Easton, and Redding. Westport Public Schools will be learning virtually today as their educators take part in the vaccine clinic, while Weston will be experiencing an early dismissal for the same reason. Redding & Easton will remain in school while staff attend to their vaccine appointments at Staples.
The Town of Easton has contracted with the Westport-Weston Health District throughout the pandemic, and due to their shared Public Schools Central Office with Redding, educators in both Easton and Redding were included in today’s clinic invitations. Westport Public Schools described that more clinics will be scheduled to support staff in receiving their vaccines, which they became eligible for on Monday.
Redding Public Schools Chairperson Chris Parkin expressed gratitude to the WWHD for their help in getting their educators vaccinated during Redding’s Board of Education meeting last night.
Educators in the four towns join those around the country who are excited to be receiving their vaccines as schools remain in-session.
Staples Assistant Principal Heads Home: Meghan Ward Announced as New Principal in Redding; Leaving Westport.
Announced tonight by the Redding Board of Education Chair Chris Parkin, Staples High School Assistant Principal Meghan Ward will serve as Principal of John Read Middle School starting July 1st - leaving another administration position open for the Westport Public Schools.
The new position will serve as a coming-home of sorts for the administrator, who is an alumna of Redding & Easton’s Joel Barlow Regional High School. Ward taught in the Social Studies Department at Staples High School from 2004 until 2009, and after a short stint in Maine, returned to Westport and Staples as Assistant Principal in 2016.
Superintendent: No New COVID-19 Cases to Report
Press Release Good afternoon Westport Families and Staff,
I am pleased to share that we have no newly reported cases of Covid-19 associated with our schools today.
As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Staples Players Radio Theatre Presents “Little Women” Tonight at 6:00
Full Cast for tonight's performance: Jasper Burke, Samantha Webster, Chloe Manna, Claire Baylis, Maizy Boosin, Lulu Dalzell, Anushka Rao, Camille Foisie, Colin Konstanty, Jasper Burke, Alex Watzman, David Corro, Lena Pantzos, Anushka Rao, Lena Pantzos (photo not ordered and does not show the full cast) Staples Players Radio Theatre will be presenting Little Women tonight at 6:00. The radio show can be streamed live at wwptfm.org and is free for all listeners. The Staples Players adapted to the pandemic world and began airing the radio broadcasts when their stages were closed for the year.
Superintent’s Update: March 3rd Virtual Learning day for Educator Vaccinations
Press Release from Superintendent Thomas ScariceGood afternoon,
It’s been a very busy week and I would like to provide the school community with some updates.
“We’re Tired of Being A Part of History”
“We’re tired of being a part of history.” Eight words uttered by one of our middle schoolers recently. Eight words that capture the sentiments and experience of a generation. For me, these are eight words that scream, “Enough!!”
A generation of post-9/11 babies, raised in schools pierced by the haunting of Sandy Hook. Digital dopamine dispensers at their fingertips. The destructive funhouse mirror of social media staring them in the face. Overly exposed to images of violence and sex. Social unrest. A generational pandemic. Enough!!
“If you can’t give children optimism, then what are you doing?” – Matt Haig
I awoke Wednesday morning to a news briefing in my inbox titled, “No ‘COVID Zero’, But Normalcy: ‘Covid zero’ isn’t going to happen — but normal life still can.” (https://tinyurl.com/dfjs3xh4)
The optimism that was forecasted weeks ago is just beginning to be realized.
It is true that Covid, like other coronaviruses, will circulate for years. Yet, the expectation of managing Covid, similar to the seasonal flu, is just before us.
Infection rates have dropped precipitously since January, vaccines are racing to communities, treatments are proving to be effective, and testing is ubiquitous. Although ‘Covid zero’ is not in our immediate future, the return to an approximation of normalcy is.
As was noted in the news briefing that landed in my inbox, “The seasonal flu does not grind life to a halt. It does not keep people from flying on airplanes, eating in restaurants, visiting their friends or going to school and work.”
While Mother Nature’s traditional New England winter begins to recede, and daylight savings approaches with sunsets closer to 7:00 P.M. than school dismissal, there is reason for optimism as the anticipation intensifies.
How a Community Works…Together
“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say ‘It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” -Fred Rogers
Monday morning I rang a bell. That bell was heard by leaders in our community: First Selectman Jim Marpe, Westport/Weston Health District Director Mark Cooper, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Kronick, WPS Human Resources Director John Bayers, WPS Supervisor of Health Services, Sue Levasseur. In a matter of three days these community leaders imagined, planned, and designed a comprehensive school-based vaccination clinic for all WPS personnel. My words could never do this justice, but it was an illustration of how a community works...together.
School-Based Vaccination Clinics
Through a partnership with the Westport/Weston Health District, and in collaboration with Weston and Easton, I could not be more enthused to announce that our first vaccination clinic will be held Wednesday March 3 in the Staples High School Field House from 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m. for members of the Westport Public Schools team!!
The plan is to hold clinics each successive Wednesday, based on vaccine availability, until all personnel who want to be vaccinated have had the opportunity. By working across three school districts, there is a better chance of securing adequate vaccines as quickly as possible.
Per Governor Lamont, priority must be given to educators who have direct contact with schools and students. All district employees, food service employees, transportation providers, and those who have direct contact with schools and students, will be eligible to receive the vaccine as of March 1 at any location, including the school-based clinic.
We will proceed as quickly as possible in having as many personnel vaccinated, which means that we may have remote days when vaccines are being offered, and we may have to factor in non-school days if side effects from the second dose result in staffing issues.
Remote Learning Day March 3
In order to mobilize our personnel and vaccinate as many members of the WPS school community as possible, March 3 will be a remote learning day for all students, Pre-K-12. It will be synchronous for students as staff members with scheduled vaccine appointments will alert their students to transition to asynchronous work when they go for their shots. Students will resume synchronous learning once the staff member returns to their assignment.
Additional information regarding upcoming clinics, and how they may or may not impact the school day, is forthcoming.
What’s Next
As our implementation of full in-person learning continues, PreK-8, and the high school model increases access to in-person learning for Staples students Monday March 1, we will continue to monitor our progress in advancing forward in a measured, safe way. Vaccinations are a significant leap in the direction of increasing a sense of normalcy for our students. Updates will be provided on further access at Staples and end of the year events. Let the optimism grow and impart it to the children around you. Stay tuned...
Nominations of Westport High School Seniors Needed for Community Service Award
Press ReleaseHuman Services Director Elaine Daignault has announced that the Westport Youth Commission is seeking nominations for the annual James S. Bacharach Service to the Community Award.
Ms. Daignault noted, “All qualified high school seniors from Westport are eligible for this award. This honor, given to one or more high school seniors from Westport, recognizes their significant community service contributions in our town.”
Citations have been given annually since 1989 as a tribute to the late James S. Bacharach, founder and past-president of the Youth Adult Council, predecessor of the Westport Youth Commission, which Bacharach and other concerned citizens founded in 1974. “Eligible nominations must demonstrate the student’s exemplary leadership ability and high standards of community service to Westport,” Daignault said. “Either adults or students may nominate a deserving high school senior for their contributions to our community.”
Nomination forms are available online at http://www.westportct.gov/youthservices and westportyouthcommission.org. Hard copies of the nomination form can be mailed by request.
Submissions must be accompanied by two references. A maximum of two letters of support attesting to the student’s contributions to the town can be uploaded to the application or emailed separately to kgodburn@westportct.gov . Applications/nominations must be received no later than 6pm on Friday, March 26, 2021 for consideration.
About the Westport Youth Commission
The Westport Youth Commission, appointed by the First Selectman and staffed by the Department of Human Services, is comprised of 15 Westport high school students and an equal number of Westport adults. It serves as a catalyst for programs and activities that promote the positive development of youth in their families, schools, community and among their peers.
For further information, contact Kevin Godburn at 203-341-1155, or via e-mail at kgodburn@westportct.gov.
Superintendent: 3 New COVID-19 Cases in 3 Schools
Last Evening’s Press Release Dear Westport Families and Staff,
In our efforts to remain transparent with reports of positive Covid-19 cases associated with our schools, we will continue to provide these updates as information is confirmed. As of the time I am writing to you this evening we have 3 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. The reports came from the following schools:
Saugatuck Elementary School - 1
Bedford Middle School - 1
Staples High School - 1
Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Points for Tonight’s Board of Ed. Meeting: Health Update, Social/Emotional Wellness, Plan for Minority Staff Recruitment
The Board of Education will continue their work after last meeting’s budget vote with another full agenda. Tonight’s meeting will start at 7:00 PM and can be viewed here or on Cablevision channel 79. The agenda and accompanying documents can be found here.
Agenda:
Health Update from Supervisor of Health Services Suzanne Levasseur. Superintendent Scarice plans to speak about the “sharp decline” in local cases.
“Search Institute” Survey from Mr. Michael Rizzo, Dr. Valerie Babich, Ms. Elaine Daignault, Ms. Margaret Watt. A survey for 7th-12th graders that will help the District understand the students’ social-emotional wellness.
Equity Study from Dr. Anthony Buono “The goal of the study is to identify systemic inequalities while positioning the district to effectively develop strategic action plans.”
2022-2023 School Year Calendar discussion.
Policy Committee and first reading of a policy on recruiting minority staff members to the district.
Snow Covers Coleytown Middle School 30 Minutes before Dismissal
Snow covered Coleytown Middle School this afternoon as the area experienced a brief but powerful burst of light snow, creating low visibility and beautiful scenes before changing over to rain.
Superintendent: Vaccines for School Staff Begin March 1st; 4 New COVID-19 Cases in 4 Schools
Press ReleaseGood morning Westport Families and Staff,
Just before the holidays I spoke of the breakthroughs that were just over the horizon, reasons to be optimistic as we endure this season and the pandemic. Today, I could not be more enthusiastic to share that Governor Lamont will make an announcement that will continue to support our work as we aim to provide as much in-person schooling for our students as possible.
At his 4:00 p.m. press conference today, Governor Lamont will announce that effective March 1st, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination appointments will be opening up for school staff, which includes any staff that work in school buildings and /or interact with students. The month of March will be focused on the task of vaccinating these school personnel and childcare providers throughout Connecticut.
A great deal of work has been done by a number of people in our school community to advocate for the vaccination of school personnel. We are most appreciative of these voices as they have finally been heard. Today, we are on the doorstep as we endeavor to have all school personnel vaccinated in the month of March.
While the news of vaccinating school personnel is wonderful, we will continue with our efforts of keeping the community updated with new cases of COVID-19. The community and regional rates have dropped dramatically over the past month, coinciding perfectly with our efforts to provide full in-person schooling K-8 and increased access at Staples High School beginning on March 1.
That said, since my last communication on Thursday, February 18, 2021, the District received 4 new positive reports of COVID-19 associated with our schools.The reports came from the following schools:
Long Lots Elementary School - 1
Saugatuck Elementary School - 1
Bedford Middle School - 1
Staples High School - 1
As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
Additionally, we want to remind families that students with pending Covid-19 tests should not return to school until receiving negative results. This approach is critical in helping us continue minimizing the potential for transmission in our schools.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools